Merchants gearing up for annual Trick or Treat Street

In this 2010 file photo, children wave at the judges of a Halloween costume contest during the Trick or Treat Street event in downtown Hendersonville. Below, Boaz Brown, 5, picks a treat from Tribal Trends storeowner Joanne Johnson at last year’s event.

Published: Tuesday, October 29, 2013 at 4:30 a.m.

Last Modified: Monday, October 28, 2013 at 11:10 p.m.

Dim the lights, slip on the costumes and ready the candy buckets... it’s time for Halloween.

Main Street merchants are stockpiling candy this week in preparation for the great invasion Thursday. A popular downtown tradition of enjoyment for costumed characters of all ages, Hendersonville’s “Trick or Treat Street” will kick off around 5 p.m. A crowd of miniature impersonators will parade down Main Street, stopping for sugary tributes from adoring fans at shops along the way.

The 400 block of Main Street will be closed by 5 p.m. to make way for the Trick or Treat Street Costume Contest for characters of all ages, beginning at 5:30 p.m. The best costumes will be awarded in five divisions — infants, preschool to kindergarten, first and second grade, third grade and above, and family-themed costumes.

Top vote-getters in each division will be awarded prizes from downtown business owners. Sid the Surf’s Monster Mash dance party will follow the contest with playful Halloween tunes until about 7:30 p.m.

Inside Mia’s Marketplace of Antiques & More at 241 N. Main St., a dozen vendors will be dressed to impress the Halloween crowd with cookies and punch for families.

“We really make it festive for the kids for about two hours,” said Dawn “Mia” Freeman, who owns the marketplace. “The kids really enjoy it.”

But the candy stock can dwindle fast when the first crowd parades through. Downtown Economic Development Director Lew Holloway estimated the city probably hosted anywhere from 4,000 to 7,500 people for the events on Main Street last Halloween, with nearly 100 kids, alone, in the costume contest.

“We’re looking forward to a similar group this year... This event is always a lot of fun,” he said. “I’d say the merchants probably hand out a couple of thousand pounds worth of candy, collectively.”

Richard Crandall, manager of Mast General Store at 527 N. Main St., estimates they probably hand out more candy than any shop in the county.

“It’s really a treat,” he said. “We get a kick out of all of the costumes, and it’s a family thing. It’s not only the kids dressing up and having fun, but it’s the parents (too).”

Two employees from the Mast General Store will don costumes as they hand out candy until the event ends or the more horrifying happens... the candy bowl runs empty.

“That’s when you run — because you know what they say, it’s either treats or tricks,” joked Erika Evers, who co-owns Dancing Bear Toys at 418 N. Main St. with her family.

Every year since the toy store opened its downtown Hendersonville location in 1997, employees have closed shop a little early for Halloween, slipped into costume and claimed their candy stations in the doorway of the store.

Like other merchants, the store donates prizes to the spoils of the costume contest winners, and Evers said they delight in seeing the creativity that goes into some of the characters each year.

Mast General Store has been participating in Trick or Treat Street since it began more than a quarter of a century ago. It’s a tradition they are proud to be a part of.

“We generally close at 6, but we stay open until 7 (for Trick or Treat Street) because so many kids and their families go by. I couldn’t stand to close our doors to them,” Crandall said.

<p>Dim the lights, slip on the costumes and ready the candy buckets... it's time for Halloween.</p><p>Main Street merchants are stockpiling candy this week in preparation for the great invasion Thursday. A popular downtown tradition of enjoyment for costumed characters of all ages, Hendersonville's “Trick or Treat Street” will kick off around 5 p.m. A crowd of miniature impersonators will parade down Main Street, stopping for sugary tributes from adoring fans at shops along the way.</p><p>The 400 block of Main Street will be closed by 5 p.m. to make way for the Trick or Treat Street Costume Contest for characters of all ages, beginning at 5:30 p.m. The best costumes will be awarded in five divisions — infants, preschool to kindergarten, first and second grade, third grade and above, and family-themed costumes.</p><p>Top vote-getters in each division will be awarded prizes from downtown business owners. Sid the Surf's Monster Mash dance party will follow the contest with playful Halloween tunes until about 7:30 p.m.</p><p>Inside Mia's Marketplace of Antiques & More at 241 N. Main St., a dozen vendors will be dressed to impress the Halloween crowd with cookies and punch for families.</p><p>“We really make it festive for the kids for about two hours,” said Dawn “Mia” Freeman, who owns the marketplace. “The kids really enjoy it.”</p><p>But the candy stock can dwindle fast when the first crowd parades through. Downtown Economic Development Director Lew Holloway estimated the city probably hosted anywhere from 4,000 to 7,500 people for the events on Main Street last Halloween, with nearly 100 kids, alone, in the costume contest.</p><p>“We're looking forward to a similar group this year... This event is always a lot of fun,” he said. “I'd say the merchants probably hand out a couple of thousand pounds worth of candy, collectively.”</p><p>Richard Crandall, manager of Mast General Store at 527 N. Main St., estimates they probably hand out more candy than any shop in the county.</p><p>“It's really a treat,” he said. “We get a kick out of all of the costumes, and it's a family thing. It's not only the kids dressing up and having fun, but it's the parents (too).”</p><p>Two employees from the Mast General Store will don costumes as they hand out candy until the event ends or the more horrifying happens... the candy bowl runs empty.</p><p>“That's when you run — because you know what they say, it's either treats or tricks,” joked Erika Evers, who co-owns Dancing Bear Toys at 418 N. Main St. with her family.</p><p>Every year since the toy store opened its downtown Hendersonville location in 1997, employees have closed shop a little early for Halloween, slipped into costume and claimed their candy stations in the doorway of the store.</p><p>Like other merchants, the store donates prizes to the spoils of the costume contest winners, and Evers said they delight in seeing the creativity that goes into some of the characters each year.</p><p>Mast General Store has been participating in Trick or Treat Street since it began more than a quarter of a century ago. It's a tradition they are proud to be a part of.</p><p>“We generally close at 6, but we stay open until 7 (for Trick or Treat Street) because so many kids and their families go by. I couldn't stand to close our doors to them,” Crandall said.</p><p>And sometimes “they keep coming at 7,” he laughed. “We enjoy it.”</p><p>Reach Weaver at emily.weaver@blueridgenow.com or 828-694-7867.</p>